Buoyant marker for aerial tow target



F. VINTSCHGER BUOYANT MARKER FOR AERIAL TOW TARGET Sept. l5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledV J u1y 29, 1957 .QUE

ENTOR.

TSCHGER BY .wz/

INV FRANCIS VIN ATTYS.

Sept. 15, 1959 F. vlNTscHGER BuoYANT MARKER FOR AERIAL Tow TARGET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E FIG.3.

Filed July 29 1957 F I G2. j

ATTYS.

United States Patent O -BUOYANT MARKER FOR-AERIAL TOW TARGET Francis Vintschger, Morristowm NJ., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United lStates o'f America as lrep 'resented by the Secretary ofthe Navy Application July 29, .1957, Serial .No. 674,990

`I1 Claims. {(Cl. 9'9) The present invention .relates to .a `buoyant marker and more particularly toa marker for an .aerial -tow target, .the marker comprising la casing :containing 1a normally .col lapsed inflatable elastic fbag and a gas Acartridge with means Vfor releasing the gas fand inlating `.the bag .in response yto impact `of f.the;marfker with .the surface of a body of water.

`In ltraining fgunners -to become :proficient .in 'the zuse of their arms, be they airborne .or ground-fbased,.one .ofzthe practices is Ito connectfan aerial target ato :an .aircraft .by a long length Vof cableso'may betowed thereby through the Eair and .furnishfa target :for `,the gunners. .Such .target practice .is .usuallycarriedcutfoverahody .of watenzwhich makes for feasier policing of Vthe ,practice 1area and imore rfapidtretrieving tof the targetfor yevaluation and further use. .Itis to be =understood,of=course, :thatiattthecompletion'of thepractice .the targetfis cut loose'andfalls into the water .from which it is retrieved by .alsurface craft l.standing by yat .a safe distance. Therefore, .if means tare not provided `for .keeping .thefallen :target afloat, or Yotherwise marking lits location, .it .may fbeeome lost. 'I-"ne .target is commonly inthe .form -of a ,sleeve or banner, the Vlatter having La weighted bar -to `dispose it horizontaltorl vertical during towing, .as desired.

Various tmeans ,have been l.proposed :for identifying the location -of .the fallen targets ,-in water. :For example, oatation :pockets ,have Vbeen .built into sleeve ftargets .but ithas beenfound that .after ten -minutes .or 'so in ,the water, vthe target :tends .to sink to Aadepthaofone'andone-halfito two feet, making difficult fits .location from the .surface craft .andnecessitating lthe tow aircraftito y,circleithe .area Iand guide .the .surface .craft .thereto .or ireguiring .a helicopter to comeoutandpickupthetanget. Qthertdevices include .the ,provision .of y,a buoy .associated with Athe :tow cablewhich had the .disadvantage rofl-introducing a ,greater dragcrload on vthe towing aircraft.

One .of ,the-important objects of ythepresent :invention .is .the :provision .of .a -marker .the `components .of y'which .are housed .in va container small r.in -size yet when .the marker .has .been .operated .a position .indicator is A.produced Yof much `greater ,size vand therefore .easier identification.

Another .object ,is .to .provide .amarker .containing a normally I.collapsed .inllatable element, which ,in `the .collapsed @condition thereof ,takes upa .smallamountofspace within .the .marker .container but is adapted .to be .forced .therefrom `and .expanded `to .an object ,identifiable at. a 4xconsiderable distance.

A .further .object .of .the invention .is .the provision .of a marker means `which comprises .an ,inflatable element, a .source of llnid .under vpressure for linating .the element, fandmeansresponsim .impact for.releasingthe,iiuid and in'ilating the element, a'll compactly contained in a -`tube. .Theexact natureof .thi-s invention .as `.well `as .other lobfject's .and advantages .thereof .will '.bereadily lapparent .from .consideration of -the `following.specication.relating .to ,the annexed drawing .iin which: v "Fig. T1 .is :a pictorial .view ofthe merkel-.of invention 'shown attached to aleader cable;

"ice

:Fig.2 is an elevational sideviewfofthe marker, Partly in section, and with parts :thereof broken away, the marker being shown in the unarmed .or lsafe condition;

Fig. 3 is Va lfragmentary ysectional view of a fportionfef Fig. l but showing the marker actuating .mechanism in the armed .condition thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view similar ato Fig r3 with fthe actuating mechanism -shown -in the actuated position thereof;

Fig. .5 is a side view .in elevation -of fthe main body.;

Fig. 6 :is .a sectional *view in plantaken alongfline-- of Fig. 3 on -a larger-scale; and

Fig. 7 fis a sectional view on line 77-of.fEig. 5.

.Referring rnow to -the drawing, wherein .like :reference characters fdesignate .like 'or -corresponding ,parts throughout the several `^views there :is `shown -in vfFig. f1 a'marker of .the,pr.esent:invention ,generally designated by .reference numeral 1.1. The markercomprises `an .elongated tubular container or casing .12, .such as a tube-or .the like, .and xed to the exterior thereof., at .longitudinally 'spaced points thereon, is agpairtoflugs 13, each .Plug .having associated therewith aclamp gplate .1.4 secured thereto -by bolt `screws 15. If desired, each .lug and plate vmay .rbc provided with a ,groove .-16 yadapted .to freceive a :leader cab1e17, or .the like, ythe ends of which `are .adapted .to tbc secured by -swivel connectors V18, 19 'to .the .tow-cable-.of the aircraft and the -tow .target respectively.

Turning now-.to Eig. 2 mounted'within2tubular-.casing 12 is .a cylindrical housing or tube .2'1 lhaving .an annular groove or channel 22 :in the exterior athereof .member 'and into which a pairof screws 23 -fpassingthrough the-casing extend, the external diameter of Ithe housing being substantially equal .to the internal diameter .of .the .casing Secured to the :lower .endof .the :housing 21 is .a connector or vcoupling in the formof .a tubular member tprovided with 4.an upstanding Ycircular flange 25 at .the upper end thereof .and .an .annular flange ,-26 .normal thereto. f-Ifhe external .diameter .of `the `upstanding flange .25 tis suchia-s to :tit .snugly `within the cylindrical .housing 'with the .annular ,flange .26 .abutting .the flower .end thereof l( as viewed in Fig. `2), suitable fastening .means .suchasset screws .21, or the like, passing through the lower end of the vhousing for .securing .it .to `theflange portion .of the tubular fconnector 24.

The ,ends of the .tubular `containercr Lcasing 1.2 -constitute a pair of wells 28, 229., -thelatter ofwhich Ifhouses or contains .a oatation member inthe ,form of an inatable elastic element .31, such asa balloon, lbag,.or the like, which vis .normally collapsed .and :suitably yrolled Ato dit Within well 29. The inflatable element :is ,provided 'with the .usual mouth ,portion '32 which receives .the tubular connector 24 .and .is secured .thereto in sealed trelationhy suitable ,means .such as .circular .clamp means 33, for the like, .and cement. The Yinflatable .element in A.the rolled .condition `thereof fits .snugly within-the well .29 to .retain the element `therein under ordinaryconditions. .Formmtecting and `further retaining .the oatation .bag within its We'Il, .there .is provided .a cap 34 which fits within ithe end of the .tubular container 121and is held -therein with sufcient .friction to .retain `the ,rolled Ybag .there within, the .cap being adapted to be forced out byination and expansion of the lbag as will hereinafter appear. .A .coverS may 'be provided to protectcap 54 during handling .and storage. y

Disposed within well 28 of casing 12 is :a body .assembly .36 which .comprises an actuator l.assembly 537, a .main Ybody 38 supporting the actuator assembly., -and a container or .cartridge 13.9 having .fluid under A.pressure sealed therein. The :main Abody 38 isiformed with .a base 41 and walls 42 .delining .a .cupflike cavity., the fwalls of the .cavity :being .provided with .circumferentially spaced longitudinal .slots 43 therein extending'hom the base through the outer edge of the cavity walls.

container 12, there is provided a support platform 44 in the form of a disc-like member, the outer periphery of which has portions `thereof notched to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially directed legs 45, said legs being adapted to be disposed in slots 43 of the main body and to be secured to the tubular container by means of screws 46, best understood by referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 6. Each of the legs 45 is provided with a post 47 which extends coextensively with the major portion of the slot 43 in which it is disposed. Each post has coiled thereabout a compression spring 48 which reacts at one end thereof against said support platform and at the other end thereof against an annular retaining member 49 secured to the cavity walls 42 by screws 51, and bridging the gaps formed by the slots 43 therein. The retaining member is also of sucient lateral extent to provide an internal retaining flange 52 for reasons hereinafter appearing.

' Disposed within the cup-like cavity of the main body 38 is a hub member or element 53 forming part of the actuator assembly 37, the hub member having an annular plate-like portion 54, the outer edge of which is adapted to be engaged by the retaining ange 52. The hub member is also provided with a vane support post 55, which projects from one side of plate-like portion 54 centrally thereof, and with a cylindrical wall portion 56 projecting from the other side of the plate-like portion and defining a chamber 57 therewithin. The vane support post 55 has a set of vanes 58 secured thereto.

Centrally of the chamber 57, there is formed in the plate-like portion 54 a tapered socket S9 with a rounded bottom which receives the rounded end of a thrusttransmitting element, such as a rod or a bar 61, the other end thereof also being rounded and received in a tapered socket 62 with a rounded bottom, socket 62 being formed in one end portion of a piercing pin 63. The piercing pin is fashioned from round stock and has a slender portion 64 extending through central openings in the support platform and the main body base respectively, the piercing pin terminating in a puncturing point 65. The piercing pin also has an enlarged portion 66 in which the socket 62 is formed, the difference in the diameters of the portions 64 and 66 providing a shoulder 67.

The enlarged portion 66 of the piercing pin has an annular projecting ange 68 against which one end of a coiled compression spring 69 reacts, the other end thereof reacting against the support platform 44, the latter being slightly hollowed out to provide a circular seat 71 for the spring and an abutting surface against which the shoulder 67 may engage for limiting movement ofthe piercing pin.

The main body base 41 has a threaded recess 72 whereby the cartridge 39 may be secured thereto, the cartridge having a threaded stern 73 received in the recess. The cartridge contains a suitable fluid under pressure, for example CO2, which is sealed therein by conventional means including a sealing disc 74, which disc is adapted to be punctured or pierced to release the fluid from the cartridge. The main body base is also provided with an annular channel 75 communicating with the threaded recess 72 and with a plurality of bores or conduits 76, the latter in turn communicating with the interior of the tubular housing 21, suitable O-ring seals 77 and 78 being employed to prevent the escape of the fluid past the main body and piercing pin respectively.

Turning now to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the post 47 projecting from the support platform 44 is shown with space therebetween and the retaining member 49, which is true as well of the other posts, this condition existing when the marker is in the operative or armed condition thereof. It is also to be noted that in this condition the compression spring is extended and has urged the 4, enlarged portion of the piercing pin away from engagement with the annular seat 71, that is, away from the position thereof in Fig. 2.-- In order to maintain the marker in the safe or unarmed condition illustrated in Fig. 2, there is provided a safety tube or sleeve 79 which fits inside well 28 of casing 12, the inner end of the sleeve being adapted to engage the retaining member 49 and press the same against ends of the posts 47, the sleeve being retained in such position by means of a retaining or safety pin or bar 81 passing through a pair of apertures in the sleeve and engaging the ends of a pair of elongated slots 82, there being a series of such slots formed in the casing for a purpose which will later be pin may be provided with a retaining wire 84, or the like, which is removed prior to withdrawal of the pin.

From an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, it should be apparent that in the unarmed condition of the marker, the main body 38 has been depressed to the point that the retaining member 49 secured thereto engages the ends of the posts 47, ange 52 of the retaining member in turn pressing the hub member 53, which, through the medium of the thrust-transmitting element 61, has pressed enlarged portion 66 of the piercing pin until the shoulder 67 thereon engages with seat 71 on the support platform 44 and whereby spring 69 has been compressed.

Simultaneously with movement of the piercing pin 63 into position with respect to the support platform as shown in Fig. 2, main body 38 carries cartridge 39 and sealing disc 74 therein away from puncturing point 65 of the pin so that it is not pierced thereby. The extent of movement of the main body and the parts supported thereby can be appreciated by the amount of space 85 appearing between the main body base 41 and the support platform 44 in Fig. 2. Hence, with the retaining pin 81 and safety sleeve 79 removed, spring 69 associated with piercing pin 63 forces the enlarged portion 66 thereof from seat 71, thrust-transmitting element 61, in turn, moving the actuating assembly hub member 53 and the main body 38 to the condition of parts shown in Fig. 3, in which it will be noted that the main body base 41 is in engagement with the support platform 44. It is also to be noted that, although the relative positions of the puncturing point 65 and the sealing disc 74, as shown in Fig. 2, remain unchanged in Fig. 3, the enlarged portion 66 of the piercing pin 63, however, is spaced from seat 71 in Fig. 3 and the piercing pin is capable of longitudinal movement against the force of spring 69 for the purpose of puncturing the disc.

Movement of the piercing pin to puncture the sealing disc and release the fluid under pressure contained in the cartridge is accomplished by impact of the actuator assembly with the water. Such impact may occur as a result of the vanes striking water entering weil 28, either through the adjacent end of casing 12 or through the elongated slots 82, such impact serving to move the vanes and associated hub member 53 longitudinally or diagonally. In either case, the thrust transmiting element 61 will transmit movement of the hub member to the piercing pin 63 and drive the puncturing point 65 against the force of spring 69 into the sealing disc 74, thereby puncturing the same and releasing the fluid under pressure in the cartridge, after which the spring is adapted to withdraw the puncturing point away from the sealing disc. For provision against the contingency that point 65 might jam in the sealing disc, the point may be grooved or channeled for escape of the fluid, notwithstanding failure of withdrawal of the point.

Upon puncturing of the sealing disc, the g or fluid under pressure flows therethrough and by way of the annular channel and conduits or bores 76 into the tubular housing 21, around the cartridge, and through the connector 24 into the oatation bag 31. Imtial initiation and abusent' expansienofjtheoatation ibagivill cause -jec'iion of the (cap 34 and the v'collapsed portion ofthe bag, `afterwhich the bag becomes completely iniia't'ed.

'Mounting ythe fm'ain tbody for movement in the "casing, as :hereinbefore described, also serves ^`to prevent 1'inadlvet-'tent Joperation when the marker isi'n 'the armed or operative condition, Fig. l3. Thus, shotild the'rnarker be dropped and impacted upon a 'surface "w'ith *its 'closed or cap end, the greater mass of the main body will move the enlarged portion `of Athefpiercingpin into engagement with seat '71 ahead of action of the actuator assembly to move the pin ato :puncture the eselin'g' tdisc.

In the use and operation of the marker device, itis secured 'toa 'length of 'leader cable, 'midway there'otswirl connectors on 'the cable 'conne'cting'ittoithe aircraft `tow iineandtow target, the clsedorjeap end of the marker being directed toward'tle'target. "Removed in turirar'e the retaining wire 84, the retaining or safety pin 81, the safety sleeve 79, and cover 35. The tow target 80, Fig. 1, is dropped from the iiying aircraft and streams out at the end of the tow li-ne and leader cable.

After target practice has been completed, the tow line is released or cut allowing the tow target and the marker attached thereto to Afall to the water. Normally, during the fall to the water the tow target acts as a parachute for the marker and the marker enters the water iirst, impact with the water actuating the vanes and actuator assembly which forces the puncturing point 65 of the piercing pin into the sealing disc 74. The iiuid or gas released 'from the cartridge passes to the floatation bag, as hereinbefore described, which bag begins to inilate and pressure exerted by inflation thereof forces cap 34 from the end of the marker casing, the bag also being forced out after which it inilates completely. A maximum of 60 seconds from the time of water entry is all that is necessary for complete inflation of the bag into an elongated object, orange-yellow in color, riding vertically in the water and visible under usual conditions yfor at least a thousand yards to observers on surface craft, the bag remaining inflated and aoat a half an hour or more, to mark the side of the fallen target.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there has been provided a marker for aerial tow targets which is compact and operates upon impact to eject and inflate an object which iioats, is of a distinctive color and suicient size 'for positively indicating the site of a fallen tow target for a considerable length of 4time and is readily identiable by an observer at a considerable distance :from the site.

Various modifications are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as only a preferred embodiment thereof has been disclosed.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination of a marker with an aerial tow target adapted to be releasably attached to an aircraft and towed through the air thereby over a body of water, said marker comprising a casing connected to said target, a housing arranged within said casing and fixed intermediate thereto the ends thereof, a container disposed within said housing and in communication therewith, said container having iiuid under pressure sealed therein by means including a breakable seal, movable means mounted within said casing and adapted to be moved for breaking said seal and releasing the iiuid under pressure yin said container, actuating means arranged within one end of the casing and responsive to impact for moving said movable means and breaking said seal, said actuating means bein-g adapted to be operated in response to the force of impact received thereby as the marker falls into the water after the target and marker have been detached from the aircraft, and a normally collapsed inflatable element arranged within the other end of the casing and Sealed to said housing in communication therewith, said lelemeufbe'ing adaptedtto beiinilatedbyfitiid assaiil seal broken, :said 'element-:when ina'ted having a jportion thereof disposed above `the water 'for providing a visual Asignal markin'gthe site of `the fallen target.

p 2. Amarker as defined in claim 1,said movable means including a piercing pin, and said actuating means including a movable Vhub member and Ya 'thrust transmitting Yelement interconnecting the member Yand vsaid pin.

VV3. A marker Aasjdeined in Vclaim '2, saidhub member being `mounted Vfor Asubstantially universal movement.

4. A marker 'as defined in claim '1, 'saidmovable means including an axially movable piercingjpin having a socket formed in one end thereof, said actuating means including .a Vhtib .member mounted 'for substantially universal movement, said hub member having a 'socket formed therein in'facing relation toisaid first-named socket, and 'a'thrust transmitting 'rod with 'its respective ends received 'IYS'a Sockets.

5. A marker as defined in claim 4, each of said sockets having tapered walls and a rounded bottom, and said ends of the rod being rounded.

6. In a marker of the class disclosed, in combination,

a casing, a support within said casing and iixed thereto,

a body within said casing mounted for movement relative thereto, a cartridge containing iiuid under pressure secured to said body and movable therewith, elongated means mounted for axial movement in said body and adapted to release said fluid after a predetermined amount of movement relative to the cartridge and body, said elongated means having an enlarged portion for engagement with said support, resilient biasing means connected to said elongated means and said support for biasing said enlarged portion away from engagement with the latter, said resilient means normally maintaining said enlarged portion spaced from engagement with said support in the operative condition of the marker, actuating means operatively connected to said body and said elongated means for moving the latter against the bias of the biasing means to release said fluid, and safety means engageable with said body for moving the same and simultaneously therewith move said actuating means and elongated means until said enlarged portion is in engagement with said support, the cartridge moving with said body in the same direction as said elongated means whereby release of the iiuid thereby is precluded.

7. In a marker as recited in claim 6, said body including a circular base, walls projecting in one direction from said base and defining a cup-like cavity therebetween, said body being formed with circumferentially spaced slots in said walls and co-extensive therewith, said support having legs fixed to said casing with a leg disposed in each of said slots respectively, said actuating means including a hub member disposed in said cup-like cavity, said enlarged portion of said elongated means being disposed between said hub member and support, and retaining means secured to said walls and engageable with said hub member for retaining the same in said cup-like cavity.

8. In a marker as recited in claim 7, said retaining means bridging said slots, and each said leg carrying resilient means reacting thereagainst and said retaining means for urging said base into engagement with said support.

9. In a marker as recited in claim 7, said actuating means being operatively connected to said elongated means by means including a thrust-transmitting element between said hub member and said enlarged portion, said hub member and enlarged portion being formed with sockets receiving opposite ends of said element.

10. The combination of a marker with an aerial tow target adapted to be releasably attached to an aircraft for towing thereby through the air over water, said marker comprising an elongated casing having a pair of wells formed in the opposite ends thereof respectively, a housing disposed in said casing between said wells, a body disposed in one of said wells and sealed to said housing 7 at. one end thereof, a cartridge secured to said body and disposed within said housing, conduit means in said body in communication with said cartridge and the interior of said housing, said cartridge containing gas under pressure sealed therein by means including a puncturable disc, a puncturing pin mounted for axial movement in said body, an impact responsive actuator disposed in said one Well and mounted on said body for substantially universal movement, said actuator having vanes thereon and said one Well having slotted walls for admitting water to said vanes, a free floating element between said actuator and pin and in engagement therewith, said element being movable by said actuator for moving said pin axially and puncturing said disc, a normally collapsed inflatable oatation bag arranged Within said other Well, said bag having a mouth portion secured to the other end of said housing and in communication With the interior thereof, 'and means closing said other Well for protecting said bag,

initial inflation of said bag forcingsaid last-named means from said other well, complete inflation of said bag providing a position indicator. Y Y

11. A marker as recited in claim 10, and detachable safety means including a sleeve arranged within said one yWell in engagement with said body for preventing movement of said pin, and retaining means including a rod extending through said sleeve and slotted end of the casing.

Newbrough Mar. 4, 1958 

